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Amazing Facts About Anaconda

The term anaconda reminds one of a movie with the same name released way back in 1997. If this wasn’t enough, the movie was further exaggerated with two sequels. Each film portrayed the anaconda, one of the largest and most powerful snakes on earth, devouring National Geographic crew members or unsuspecting tourists and as a villainous, sadistic man eater. Well that was represented within the boundaries of the silver screen. Getting back to facts, this large non-venomous South American reptile can actually provoke goose bumps with just the mention of its name. Found in a plethora of colors, the anaconda is hailed as one of the protectors of Amazon Rain Forests by the locals. Also known as the water boa, the word anaconda has been derived from the Tamil word “anaikolra” which means “elephant killer”, while some believe that the term has its roots in Latin “Eunectes” meaning “good swimmer”. The following facts are just an attempt to increase factual awareness and inculcate a sense of respect and understanding about these very rare and beautiful creatures that are being driven to the verge of extinction by human actions, such as poaching for their skin and encroachment in their natural habitat. Browse on for some interesting and amazing facts on anacondas.

The entire body of anaconda is covered with scales with the exception being cloaca. Glands in the cloaca emit a foul smelling musk, which acts as a poisonous insecticide for small organisms like ticks and leeches and prevents them from festering.

The female anaconda is larger than its male counterpart. In some recorded cases, female anacondas prey on a smaller male.

During mating season, as many as 12 males try to mate with a single female at the same time, the resultant being an odd cluster known as breeding balls.

The mating process of anaconda can stretch for as long as 2 to 4 weeks.

Like all boas, anacondas do not lay eggs; instead, they give birth to live baby snakes.

Young baby anacondas develop in their mother’s body attached to a yolk sac and enclosed by a clear membrane.

When the mother is ready to give birth, she exerts pressure and pushes the babies out of an opening called the cloaca.

The newborns are born surrounded by a protective membrane wrapped around their bodies and break it open in order to breathe and survive.

As soon as young offspring are born, the mother moves away from them and they are left to fend for themselves.

Born at two feet long, baby anacondas are capable of swimming and hunting for their prey immediately after birth.

Anacondas can control and regulate their body temperature by changing the amount of skin surface exposed to the sun.